Alzheimer’s News:
Managing Your Mental Health: For many caregivers, dealing with stress and anxiety is a daily battle. The current situation we face can be challenging and has the potential for many to alienate their own mental and emotional well being. Despite the challenges, there are multiple tools and ways that make it easier to manage stress and to take care of your own mental and emotional health. Here are a few things you can use from Alzheimer’s Orange County. https://www.alzoc.org/managing-your-mental-health/
Families affected by FTD face distinct challenges in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Association of Frontotemporal Degeneration’s Dr. Ted Huey offers FTD Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenges and Suggestions. https://www.theaftd.org/ftd-care-during-the-covid-19-pandemic-challenges-and-suggestions/
Caregiver Stress Exercises During Covid-19. It’s critical to manage your own stress so you can keep assisting others. Find the strategy that works for you with these self-care exercises. https://blog.healthpropress.com/2020/05/caregiver-stress-exercises-during-covid-19/
Why are disturbances so common in dementia? Sleep cycle and sleep hygiene issues are often the problem. Dr. Andrew E. Budson talks about this in his latest blogpost in Psychology Today.
During the Pandemic, Hospitalized Dementia Patients Still Need Their Caregivers: With no visitors policies in place, dementia patients are facing their ailments alone. READ MORE
Coronavirus Patients are Reporting Neurological Symptoms: A number of studies are reporting that over a third of COVID-19 patients are showing neurological symptoms. READ MORE
The Foods We Eat Together May Affect Your Risk of Dementia: A new study has found that it’s not just what you eat, but the foods you eat together in a sort of food “network” that may increase your risk for Alzheimer’s. READ MORE
There’s Healing Power in Music, Meditation, and Yoga Found in Alzheimer’s Patients: New research shows that these activities may reduce many of their symptoms, including anxiety and depression. READ MORE
A Seaweed Alzheimer’s Drug Has Been Approved for U.S. Clinical Trials: In the quest to cure to Alzheimer’s, a Shanghai drugmaker’s experimental ‘seaweed drug’ is the next glimmer of hope. READ MORE
The Alabama Department of Senior Services (ADSS) is seeking public input regarding the unmet needs of senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and caregivers in Alabama communities. Every 4 years ADSS is tasked with completing the State Plan on Aging. The current State Plan is expiring, and they are working on a new plan to cover October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2024. The State Plan will serve as the required compliance document that will allow ADSS to continue serving the aging population through the Area Agencies on Aging that serve every county in the state. The State Plan will also document Alabama’s efforts to better serve older individuals, persons with disabilities, and their caregivers through objective goals.
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, ADSS is unable to host regional in-person town hall meetings. However, you can watch a virtual town hall recording to learn more about the State Plan. You may provide information you would like considered by either email or US postal mail. Both of these addresses will be presented at the conclusion of the recorded virtual town hall meeting. You can listen to the virtual town hall through the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUFCUcFuZ7A
Dementia Friendly Activities:
In light of his recent passing, our friends at Encore send you some interesting things to learn about Little Richard, who goes down in history as one of the musical greats. He made quite the impact on American music and influenced musicians around the world. Read a little about him, then check out the Youtube videos that include an interview on 60 Minutes, a clip of him as a child playing the piano like you wouldn’t believe, then enjoy some of his best-known hits. See attached.
With outside-the-house activities temporarily closed, seniors and families alike are looking for safe ways to have fun at home. Try this list of free virtual experiences put together by DailyCaring. Observe animals in zoos and in their natural habitats, a wide variety of live music and concerts, virtual travel to amazing places, tours of the world’s top museums, and U.S. theme parks.
The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America has some fun movement and activity videos. Visit their Facebook page to watch. Check out the upcoming programming schedule on our website.
M4A is offering Workouts with Brena every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 10 – 10:30, https://www.facebook.com/M4A.Alabama
ACA is partnering with LifeBio to create The Memory Project: Reminiscing Made Fun: Here’s a truly engaging activity that the whole family can enjoy, even from a distance. Today is the day to begin to record your life story or your family member’s story. LifeBio helps people ask the right questions to bring out the best memories and stories with the ultimate goal of creating a lasting and priceless legacy. Visit https://alzca.org/lifebio/ to learn more and receive a discount. ACA scholarships are also available.
Calendar:
“How to Use Technology to stay Socially Connected”, Monday, May 18 at noon, from Brair Glen. Please note this call will take place via Zoom. Contact Kelli Skinner, kelli.skinner@jeaseniorliving.com
Be Brain Powerful® LIVE is a weekly virtual event series by UsAgainstAlzheimer’s. Each week they are hosting a new episode with a different expert, presenting the best ways to promote brain health and stay engaged. These episodes are free, streaming LIVE on Facebook and Zoom, every Wednesday at 5:00 pm. If you’d like to register: click here.
M4A is offering biweekly Coffee Break sessions via Zoom every other Wednesday at 1 pm. May 20 session features Breana Thomas, who will about the virtual Chronic Disease Self-Management and teach some Tai Chi moves. June 3’s session is on Music Therapy. Contact Jennifer Fuller, jfuller@m4A.org or join here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/175256000430600/
“Managing Emotions During Uncertain Times”, with Dr. Lemeshia Agee Chambers, PhD, ACA virtual event, Tuesday, May 26, 11 – noon. Does the COVID-19 pandemic have you experiencing many highs and lows emotionally? You are not alone. Dr. Chambers willlead a mental health discussion about our new “normal,” addressing isolation, depression and stress with tips to successfully manage those feelings. Register in advance for this meeting: https://brookdale.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJ0tfuyurT0uGdSz8nmGbtBghFNUauKZd14W After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
M4A is offering a free, virtual, Living Well Alabama workshop, Tuesday’s at 1 pm, May 26 – June 30. The workshops are 2 hours each. Email wellness@m4a.org or LivingWellAlabama.org.
Zoom Support Groups available online:
- West Alabama Regional Commission’s Area Agency on Aging, Tuesday, May 19, 2 – 3:30, contact Nikki Poe at nikki.poe@westal.org.
- CJFS CARES, Thursday evenings, 7:30 pm contact Pam Leonard, pam@cjfsbham.org
- Lakeside Hospice, 1st Tuesday of each month, 2:00 pm, and 2nd Thursday of each month, 6:30 pm, contact Bit Thomaston, bthomaston@lakesidehospice.org
- Founders Place at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Tuesday’s at 10 am, contact Susan Logan, susanlogan65@gmail.com
- Briar Glen, Monday’s at noon, contact Ramsi Wilkes, ramsi.wilkes@jeaseniorliving.com
Stay tuned! Our regular schedule of support groups, education events and fundraisers will resume as soon as possible!!
- Friday, July 31, Glow for a Cure Golf Tournament, Jr. Board
- Friday, September 25, Garden Art Party
- Tuesday, September 29, Lunch & Learn
- October 15, Eastern Women of 50 golf tournament benefits ACA
- Saturday, November 7, Walking to Remember
- Sunday, November 8, Day of Prayer
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